Robbin Dilley

I grew up in Midcoast Maine and fell in love with it: the foggy summer mornings on the water, the way wild blueberries smell in the sun, the mossy dampness of winter woods. However, it wasn’t until I left Maine that I realized how truly special this place is. I moved to New York City for college where I majored in Biology at Columbia University. While I enjoyed the city and found cellular and molecular biology fascinating, I desperately missed a connection to the natural world and the kind of small, close community that I left behind.

I spent the time after college working for Hurricane Island Outward Bound School as a wilderness expedition leader and doing field research in the off season. I lived in Hawaii and monitored Hawksbill sea turtle nests and also spent time in Gloucester Massachusetts relocating stranded seals and collecting behavioral data on whales. In this mix of experiences, I realized that I loved teaching and saw the power that close connection to people and place has for students.

I earned a Masters in education through the Boston Teacher Residency program. Since then, I’ve taught in a mix of public, boarding, and private schools around the US. As a science teacher, I gravitate towards experiences where the natural world is the instructor and students have the freedom to question and observe the things that truly intrigue them. Too often, science courses can be limited to facts and data, without space for student connection, passion, or awe. At MCS, we explore natural history and ecology on and around Chewonki Neck where there is no shying away from the beauty and complexity of our local ecosystems.

I’m so excited to be part of the MCS community! I live on campus with my husband, our toddler, and our dog Tesla. I love reading, puzzles of all kinds, and long hikes. Currently, I’m fascinated by dragonfly migration!